North Carolina Lawmaker Leads Bill To Drop Gas Prices

Heath Shuler Congress

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by Associated Press / FOX Charlotte

Story Created: May 5, 2011 at 1:03 PM EDT

Story Updated: May 5, 2011 at 2:15 PM EDT

CHARLOTTE - North Carolina Representative Health Shuler said he'll introduce a bill on Capitol Hill by Friday that would instantly cut the price of gas by nearly 19 cents a gallon.

AAA said the national average price for a gallon of gas rose two cents on Wednesday morning. It's now $3.98 per gallon. In Charlotte, many gas stations are selling gas for $3.89 a gallon.

Representative Health Shuler said he's working on a bill that will drop the price of gas 18.4 cents per gallon.

But there's a catch. If there is a federal gas tax holiday, the money will come out of the Department of Transportation's highway fund.

"That money is utilized to pave the roads, to reconstruct roads and bridges, and that is our infrastructure, it's utilized for the wear and tear and maintenance of the roads that we drive on," said Shuler.

Shuler said the highway fund could manage for 45 days if there's a federal gas tax holiday, but he said he'd like to temporarily suspend tax breaks for oil companies, as well.

Shuler said a 45-day gas tax holiday would greatly stimulate the economy, especially during the summer travel season.

"What other piece of legislation can we use to drop the price almost 19 cents per gallon in one day? This is the best way to do it," he said.

Representative Shuler said he has not yet heard from any other members of North Carolina's congressional delegation, so Eyewitness News reached out to the offices of U.S. Reps. Sue Myrick, Melvin Watt and Larry Kissell.

Only Kissell responded Wednesday night, saying he supports a 45-day federal gas tax holiday to ease the price at the pump.

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